Ozempic, known generically as semaglutide, is a prescription medication developed by Novo Nordisk. Initially approved by the FDA in December 2017 for managing type 2 diabetes, it belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Ozempic stimulates insulin production after meals, thereby aiding in blood sugar control. While effective for its intended purpose, the drug gained popularity for its weight loss side effect, leading to widespread use and, subsequently, a surge in reported adverse health consequences and lawsuits.
The Rise of Ozempic and Subsequent Lawsuits
Ozempic's meteoric rise in popularity, fueled by its weight loss benefits, has led to a wave of lawsuits against Novo Nordisk. These lawsuits allege that the medication was defectively designed and that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn users of the associated hazards. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed in response to these adverse effects, with cases consolidated in a Multi District Litigation (MDL) in Pennsylvania.
The lawsuits claim that Novo Nordisk knew or reasonably should have known about the many unsafe side effects of the drug but failed to include them on the warning label. The cases are consolidated in a Multi District Litigation (MDL), a consolidated judicial proceeding designed to streamline lawsuits involving common factual questions.
Allegations and Legal Grounds
Plaintiffs in Ozempic lawsuits may be eligible for various types of compensation, including reimbursement for past, current, and future medical bills related to treating conditions caused by the drug. The core legal arguments in these cases revolve around product liability, medical malpractice, consumer protection laws, and personal injury law.
Product liability law holds manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and retailers accountable for injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. Medical malpractice law addresses negligence by healthcare providers, while consumer protection laws are designed to protect consumers from fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Personal injury law covers cases where a person is harmed due to the negligence or wrongful act of another.
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Common Injuries and Side Effects
Thousands of users have reported that their use of Ozempic caused gastrointestinal issues such as gastroparesis and other severe side effects. Lawsuits involving Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Trulicity, and Mounjaro are consolidated in an MDL class action lawsuit.
Some of the most common and severe injuries linked to Ozempic lawsuits include:
- Gastroparesis: A severe disorder that causes food to move too slowly from the stomach to the small intestine, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and malnutrition.
- Ileus: A condition obstructing food or fluid passage through the colon, potentially requiring emergency care or hospitalization.
- Intestinal Obstruction: A blockage in the small intestine, leading to impaired bowel function.
- Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION): A serious and irreversible eye condition that can cause sudden vision loss.
Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) and Court Proceedings
In February 2024, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) established MDL No. 3094, centralizing lawsuits alleging that the manufacturers of GLP-1 RA weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, failed to adequately inform patients and healthcare providers about the risks of severe gastrointestinal side effects. Fifty-five ongoing actions and related future cases were transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for consolidated pretrial proceedings.
The initial status conference for the Ozempic multidistrict litigation brought together attorneys from Novo Nordisk and plaintiffs who have filed cases or are seeking roles in the plaintiffs’ attorney leadership group for the MDL. Judge Karen S. Marston now presides over MDL 3094.
Key Case Management Orders (CMOs)
- CMO 11 - Protective Order: Approved a joint motion from the parties to safeguard certain discovery materials from public access, including personal health information and confidential commercial data.
- CMO 12 - Plaintiff Fact Sheets: Mandates that plaintiffs complete a Plaintiff Fact Sheet (PFS) with case-specific information and provide authorizations for retrieving discoverable records. Medical Records Consultants (MRC) will gather medical records for all parties' access.
- Case Management Order No. 6: Expanded the leadership structure for the Ozempic lawsuits under MDL 3094.
Vision Loss Claims and NAION
Multiple vision loss lawsuits have been filed against Novo Nordisk by patients who developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). These new Ozempic lawsuits allege that Novo Nordisk failed to warn patients and doctors about the risk of NAION, despite evidence from clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance, and adverse event reports.
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In August 2024, the European Medicines Agency ordered updated warning labels for Ozempic and related drugs to include vision loss and NAION risk, a move that plaintiffs’ lawyers can point to as regulatory validation. The plaintiffs in the Ozempic MDL have submitted a motion requesting the formal creation of a “Vision Injury Track” within MDL 3094. According to the motion, over 140 cases in the MDL now involve claims of partial or total blindness.
A new lawsuit filed in Travis County, Texas, alleges that a 52-year-old woman suffered sudden and irreversible blindness after using Ozempic for just six months. Twenty-one New Jersey plaintiffs who say they suffered permanent vision loss after taking Ozempic or Wegovy are seeking to consolidate their lawsuits into a multicounty litigation against Novo Nordisk.
Scientific Studies and Emerging Evidence
Recent studies have found a causal link between gastrointestinal problems with Ozempic/Wegovy usage. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has linked weight loss medications like Ozempic to heightened gastrointestinal risks, and is expected to drive an increase in 2023 Ozempic lawsuits, reflected in upcoming legal advertisements.
Researchers from the University of Toronto found that patients taking semaglutide were twice as likely to develop neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). A CDC-supported study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that semaglutide-related emergency room visits occurred an estimated 25,000 times between 2022 and 2023, with the majority of these visits occurring in 2023.
In a newly released observational study out of Sweden, researchers found a potential association between semaglutide use and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The study, which analyzed insurance data from over 800,000 diabetic patients, reported that users of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic had a 1.6 times higher risk of developing RVO compared to those on traditional diabetes therapies.
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FDA and Label Updates
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) update to the Ozempic label warns of an increased risk of ileus, a condition obstructing food or fluid passage through the colon. In September 2023, the FDA added an Ozempic warning for ileus.
In January 2025, the Ozempic label was updated to state that it is “not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis,” but does not indicate that the drug itself may cause the condition.
Legal Strategies and Challenges
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly moved to dismiss the majority of claims in these lawsuits. The defendants argue that unless a plaintiff has undergone a specific medical test-a gastric emptying study-to objectively confirm the diagnosis, the entire opinion should be dismissed. The defense is basically saying that symptoms alone are not enough and that relying on clinical judgment or timing, like the fact that symptoms started while on the drug and went away when it was stopped, does not meet the legal standards for reliable scientific evidence.
Plaintiffs’ leadership in the Ozempic MDL has submitted a motion to Judge Pratter requesting the formal creation of a “Vision Injury Track” within MDL 3094. The proposed structure would group NAION and other ocular injury claims together for streamlined discovery, expert development, and eventual bellwether selection.
Filing an Ozempic Lawsuit: Key Steps
If you believe you have been injured by Ozempic, there are several steps you should take:
- Continue Getting Medical Care: Maintain your ongoing medical treatment.
- Save Your Medication Packaging: Hold onto everything related to Ozempic, including the boxes, prescription labels and any packaging.
- Collect Your Medical Records: Gather all relevant documents, such as pharmacy receipts, medical records, lab results and discharge summaries.
- Contact a Lawyer: Find an attorney who has experience with Ozempic injuries.
- File a Lawsuit: When your lawyer files your lawsuit, your case might join a special group of similar cases.
- Sharing Evidence: Both sides will exchange information and expert opinions.
Current Status and Future Outlook
As of November 2025, there are 2,914 personal injury lawsuits for gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal obstruction in MDL 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. There is no global settlement in either the gastrointestinal-related MDL nor the NAION lawsuits. None of these cases have gone to trial.
The Ozempic litigation is expanding, with momentum building behind calls for the FDA to take action on Ozempic’s potential vision risks. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ruled to expand the GLP-1 receptor agonist MDL to include claims involving Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda.